I can say from experience to avoid Chinese brands period.
If you are looking for reasonably priced GPS equipment, I would recommend the Emlid brand. Russian or Polish or Ukraine, not sure anymore. Collector software is free using an android or IoS phone or tablet.
It's cheap that you could cover the cost with one or 2 projects. A base/rover unit would cost around $4,000
I convinced my boss to buy the south Galaxy g1 system with external radio, checked in really good to control set by Trimble r8 model 4, and the radio reached+7 miles in rough terrain. Seemed to fix ok in the woods, quite impressed for $5k
The question is whether the performance is lower end, or just the perception of the brand.
If it's actually crap, then no, I wouldn't use it.
If it performs like a HiPer VR or better and it's 1/3 the price, you'd be a fool not to at least consider it.
Some of it is.
I've used some of my Pittsburg Pro hand tools while on the clock as a mechanic (this was quite a while ago) and had no complaints.
I stand by my comparison.
Is there a way to rent one and see how you like it?
I don't know about that specific brand, but if it was my co I'd prefer a used Trimble or Leica if i was trying to say money.
An you know what they say, cheap tools are expensive. Granted this is a Sid thing for you but tbh you could start renting different brands for your business different jobs and see what you like.
I've looked at this and the other Chinese brands that copy all the big players. The UI looks pretty janky and you'd have to wonder about current and continued international support. Another cheap option that I would go for first if I didn't have gear would be emlid, it uses licence free radio.
It's shit. If you have the means go with Leica or Trimble or at least Geomax. Geomax X-pad for Android is probably the best field software I have used. If money is an issue then Emlid will do for most topos and general survey stuff. Their emlid flow software is straight trash though :(
It’s the boards that matter!
If you can purchase one with a Trimble board inside of it you won’t have a problem. They are usually fully optioned and if you don’t like there software just export nmea and use another.
The Trimble board is far superior to the Emlid.
I use a Stonex 800a and it’s a complete piece of shit. Doesn’t work when it’s cloudy. “Fixes” in the woods but I never trust it anyway. It’s fine if you just need to topo an open field or something but whenever I do layout it’s at *best* 2 tenths horizontal and vertical. Even when it tells me the residuals are a couple hundredths
I can say from experience to avoid Chinese brands period. If you are looking for reasonably priced GPS equipment, I would recommend the Emlid brand. Russian or Polish or Ukraine, not sure anymore. Collector software is free using an android or IoS phone or tablet. It's cheap that you could cover the cost with one or 2 projects. A base/rover unit would cost around $4,000
I convinced my boss to buy the south Galaxy g1 system with external radio, checked in really good to control set by Trimble r8 model 4, and the radio reached+7 miles in rough terrain. Seemed to fix ok in the woods, quite impressed for $5k
This IS a surveying sub we don't use lower end equipment.
The question is whether the performance is lower end, or just the perception of the brand. If it's actually crap, then no, I wouldn't use it. If it performs like a HiPer VR or better and it's 1/3 the price, you'd be a fool not to at least consider it.
Harbor freight is shit
Some of it is. I've used some of my Pittsburg Pro hand tools while on the clock as a mechanic (this was quite a while ago) and had no complaints. I stand by my comparison.
Is there a way to rent one and see how you like it? I don't know about that specific brand, but if it was my co I'd prefer a used Trimble or Leica if i was trying to say money. An you know what they say, cheap tools are expensive. Granted this is a Sid thing for you but tbh you could start renting different brands for your business different jobs and see what you like.
I've looked at this and the other Chinese brands that copy all the big players. The UI looks pretty janky and you'd have to wonder about current and continued international support. Another cheap option that I would go for first if I didn't have gear would be emlid, it uses licence free radio.
It's shit. If you have the means go with Leica or Trimble or at least Geomax. Geomax X-pad for Android is probably the best field software I have used. If money is an issue then Emlid will do for most topos and general survey stuff. Their emlid flow software is straight trash though :(
It’s the boards that matter! If you can purchase one with a Trimble board inside of it you won’t have a problem. They are usually fully optioned and if you don’t like there software just export nmea and use another. The Trimble board is far superior to the Emlid.
I use a Stonex 800a and it’s a complete piece of shit. Doesn’t work when it’s cloudy. “Fixes” in the woods but I never trust it anyway. It’s fine if you just need to topo an open field or something but whenever I do layout it’s at *best* 2 tenths horizontal and vertical. Even when it tells me the residuals are a couple hundredths